Obituary: Mirjam de Zoete Geismar, of Weston and New Haven

WESTON, CT — Mirjam de Zoete Geismar died of dementia at her home in New Haven on Nov. 13. She was 88.

Mirjam is the daughter of Chaim and Fifi de Zoete of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Chaim and Fifi were living in Makassar, Indonesia, where Chaim was working for the Dutch military as a pharmacist, when Mirjam was born; two sisters followed, each a year apart. The family returned to Rotterdam in 1936.

When the Germans invaded the Netherlands four years later, Mirjam’s life, and the lives of all Jews, were systematically destroyed through anti-Jewish measures. In 1942, sensing the murderous consequences of deportation, Mirjam’s family separated and went into hiding. Mirjam’s longest hiding address (from January 1943 to liberation on May 10, 1945) was with Petronella van Vliet, where she and three other Jewish children had to sleep under the kitchen floor for safety. Her parents were hidden in a church attic and her sisters were hidden at seven addresses between them—all five survived. However, over twenty-five close relatives were murdered.

In late 1948, Mirjam started a new life in Israel, working in a cooperative village with a group of young people. In 1950, Mirjam married David Geismar who had also been in hiding in the Netherlands; most of his family was murdered in concentration camps. David and Mirjam immigrated to the United States in 1957, with a son Odeed Geismar (Mary Geismar) and a daughter Warda Geismar (Kenneth Kane), living first in Jersey City, then in Norwalk where David worked in a factory during the day and fixed washing machines at night. Mirjam took in ironing. Two years later, they moved to Weston, where they started Dave’s Electric Appliance Service. David sold and repaired large appliances; Mirjam was the business manager. They had two more daughters, Daphne Geismar (Robert Bjornson) and Judith Thomas (Andy Thomas).

In Weston, Mirjam joined the volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS), volunteering for twenty-two years. In addition, she worked as a nurse’s aide in the Westport public and independent schools.

In 1995, David and Mirjam sold their appliance business. In retirement, after a life of terror, hard work, raising a family, and humanitarian efforts, Mirjam and David finally found time for themselves, camping, bicycling, reading, going to flea markets, and picnicking with friends on Compo Beach. They also visited schools and spoke about their experiences during the Holocaust.

In addition to her four children, Mirjam is survived by her sister Judith Cohen, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. David died in 2003.

A gathering to celebrate Mirjam’s life will be held on Sunday, Nov. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 173 Westwood Road, New Haven, CT. From 1 to 2 p.m., remembrances will be shared.

Memorial donations can be made to Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Servies (IRIS) or Solar Youth, both in New Haven, to honor Mirjam’s life as an immigrant and her compassion towards children.